RCCB

Protection against shock outside the equipotential bonding
zone
Bonding condutors are used in an installation to maintain metallic
parts, as near as possible, to the same potential as earth.
Working with portable equipment outside this equipotential bonding
zone, e.g. in the car park of a factory, introduces
additional shock hazards. Socket outlets rated 32A or less w‘ hich ay
be reasonably expected to supply portable
equipment for use outdoors’should have at least one socket nomi-
nated for outdoor use. This socket should be equipped with RCC
protection unless fed from an isolating transformer or similar device,
or fed from a reduced voltage.
Protection in special situations (IEE wiring regulation)
The use of RCCBs is obligatory or recommended in the following
situations :
The provision of residual current protetion throughout a system or in
vulnerable parts of a system will greatly reduce the hazard of fire
caused by such faults.
PEN conductors
The use of RCCBs is PEN conductors is prohibited. A PEN conduc-
tor is a single conductor combining the functions of neutral conduc-
tor and protective conductor. This being so, when the PEN conduc-
tor is taken through the torroid of an RCCB, earth faults will go
undetected because the return path for the earth fault current is
included in the resiual sum.
Use of Hager RCCBs on 3 phase 3 wire systems
The Hager range of 4 pole RCCBs can be used to provide residual
current protection of 3 phase, 3 wire circuits (no neutral).
L1 N L1 L2 L3
1 3 5 7 N 1 3 5 7 N

T T
- caravans : 30mA RCCBs should be used

- TT systems
2 4 6 8 N 2 4 6 8 N
- swimming pools : 30mA RCCB for socket outlets in zone B obliga-
L1 N L1 L2 L3
tory; recommended in zone C.
Supply entry
- Agricultural and horticultural : 30mA RCCB for socket outlets and Top or bottom feed.
for the purpose of protection against fire, RCCB ≤ 0.5A sensitivity.

- construction sites : 30mA RCCB recommended RCCBs /MCBs co-ordination

Portable equipment with MCBs

With the exception mentioned above, where a socket is RCCBs MY MT/MU NB NC ND
specifically designated for work outside the equipotential 1-63A 2-63A 6-100A 0.5-100A 6-63A
bonding zone, the Wiring Regulations demand the use of RCCBs to C B/C B C D
protect the users of portable equipment. It is widely recognised that 2 poles
their use has made a significant contribution to safety in the work- 16A 4.5kA 6kA 10kA 10kA 6kA
place and the home. 25A 4.5kA 6kA 10kA 10kA 6kA
40A 4.5kA 6kA 10kA 10kA 6kA
Protection against fire hazards 63A 4.5kA 6kA 10kA 10kA 6kA
The provisions in the Wiring Regulations for protection against 80A 4.5kA 6kA 10kA 10kA 6kA
shock by indirect contact ensure rapid disconnection under earth 100A 4.5kA 6kA 10kA 10kA 6kA
fault assuming the fault has negligible impedance. Under such 4 poles
conditions the fault current, as we have seen, is 16A 4.5kA 6kA 10kA 10kA 6kA
sufficiently great to cause the overcurrent protection device to quic- 25A 4.5kA 6kA 10kA 10kA 6kA
kly disconnect the fault. However high impedance faults can arise 40A 4.5kA 6kA 10kA 10kA 6kA
where the fault current is sufficient to cause 63A 4.5kA 6kA 10kA 10kA 6kA
considerable local heat without being high enough to cause tripping 80A 4.5kA 6kA 10kA 10kA 6kA
of the overcurrent protective device. The heat 100A 4.5kA 6kA 10kA 10kA 6kA
generated at the point of the fault may initiate a fire long before the
fault has deteriorated into a low impedance connection to earth.

Positive contact indication TEST : test regularly : RCCB must trip.

OFF ON
green red

Earth leakage fault indication

or

OFF

grey yellow

T.22